Sweden want to be grouped with England in Friday's draw for the Euro 2012 finals as they do not see them as genuine contenders. (Daily Mirror)

Carlo Ancelotti, sacked by Chelsea at the end of last season, says the club's "old" players are to blame for their run of bad results, not his successor Andre Villas-Boas. (Daily Mirror)

Spanish full-back Jose Enrique says his Liverpool team-mates are encouraging him to play for England. (Daily Mail)

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has claimed that Andre Villas-boas's wounded Chelsea side will be scared of making the long trip north to face the Magpies on Saturday. "They will be fearing coming to us in front of 52,000 Geordies," he said. (Metro)

Wales are unlikely to search for a successor to Gary Speed as the national team manager until the new year, as they are intent on respecting his bereaved family. (The Guardian)

Liverpool fear Brazilian midfielder Lucas will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury. (Daily Telegraph)

Manchester City keeper Joe Hart has been caught on camera singing Oasis' hit Wonderwall, and mimicking former frontman and City fan Liam Gallagher. (Metro)

LA Galaxy soccer coach Bruce Arena has revealed that President Barack Obama called him in the early hours of the morning on their tour of Indonesia to congratulate him on winning the MLS Cup. Obama spent several years growing up in Indonesian capital Jakarta and has cited it as giving him an appreciation of the beautiful game. (USA Today)